FeedFlow vs RSS Guard

FeedFlow

• People who want the same free reader on phone, tablet and desktop
• Readers who prefer a plain chronological list without recommendations
• FreshRSS, Miniflux or Feedbin users looking for an open-source client

RSS Guard

• Windows and Linux users who want a free, open-source desktop reader
• People syncing with FreshRSS, Miniflux, Tiny Tiny RSS or Nextcloud News
• Power users who want scripted filters and SQL-style saved searches

FeedFlow

• There is no web app; reading happens in the Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
• Syncing between devices needs a service you supply: iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or a FreshRSS, Miniflux, Feedbin or BazQux account.
• The project is developed by Marco Gomiero and funded by optional tips and donations rather than a paid plan.
• The App Store listing requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.

RSS Guard

• It is a desktop application: no web app and no iOS or Android app is listed.
• Official Windows builds are not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first launch, and macOS Gatekeeper may block the app.
• The docs say macOS packages are not well tested and support only the SQLite database backend.
• The project warns that the rssguard.com website is unrelated; official downloads are on the GitHub Releases page.

FeedFlow

Chronological timeline

Feeds appear as a single list in the order they were published, with no algorithmic ranking. Filters narrow it by read status, bookmarks, source or category.

Reading modes

Articles open in Reader Mode with adjustable text size, in the in-app browser, or in a browser of your choice.

Offline reading

Article content can be saved during sync so full articles are available without a connection, and cache cleanup tools keep storage in check.

Sync on your terms

Keep the library local, sync it through iCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive, or connect directly to FreshRSS, Miniflux, Feedbin or BazQux Reader.

Blocked words and organization

Blocked words hide articles that contain chosen keywords or phrases. Feeds are grouped into categories, and articles can be bookmarked and searched.

Import, export and feed suggestions

OPML import and export move feed lists between readers, articles can be imported and exported as CSV, and curated feed suggestions cover ten categories.

RSS Guard

Local feeds or online services

A multi-account app: standard feeds can be stored locally, or an account can sync two ways with Feedly, Gmail, Google Reader API services, Nextcloud News or Tiny Tiny RSS.

Article filters

Scripted filters can change incoming articles, mark them important, assign labels or reject them. The docs describe filters as a tool for advanced users that can slow feed updates.

Labels and saved queries

Any number of labels can be assigned to an article, and a Query keeps a search in the feed list, written as a regular expression or an SQL WHERE clause.

Built-in media player

Podcasts and other audio or video play inside the app through a libmpv-based player or a simpler QtMultimedia one, depending on the build.

Full-article extraction

A bundled article extractor powers the Fetch full articles feature, pulling the main readable content from a web page, and it can also be called from scripts.

Skins, notifications and databases

Skins restyle the interface and the article viewer, desktop notifications are configurable by event, and data is kept in SQLite by default or on a MariaDB server.

FeedFlow

• Free$0

  The complete app on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux, including every sync option and offline reading.

RSS Guard

• Free$0

  The complete application for Windows, Linux and macOS, with every service plugin and feature included.